As recent as August 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched Phase Three of the Government-Business Partnership, marking a critical transition from economic crisis management to sustained and inclusive growth. Coupled with Phase One, focused on stabilisation of energy, logistics and transport networks and Phase Two, establishing vital reforms against crime and corruption and remove structural blockages, etc. From stabilisation and reform, to growth.
The main objectives range from fixing operational bottlenecks and gaining private financial resources, backing national reform implementation and promoting rising investor confidence, to large-scale employment objectives and more.
Aligning with the national mandate to fast-track growth, Pinpoint Stewards will host the Annual Public-Private Partnership Reforms Conference on 25–26 November 2026 at the Indaba Hotel, Johannesburg. Under the theme “Fast tracking critical projects in SA through shared service delivery,” the conference serves as a vital platform for public and private stakeholders to convert objectives into operational realities.
“The fact remains: whether it is called Shared Services, PPP’s or Government-Business Partnerships, the concept is not new, but critical for SA as a whole. The saying ‘a house divided shall fall’ rings true, and the clear solution to avoid collapse is that both the Public- and Private sector synergize efforts to mediate risk, combine resources, funding and specialized skills. The one needs the other,” says Sudhira Sewsunker, organiser of the PPP Reforms conference.
Why now? Breathing new life into accelerating projects is National Treasury’s freshly overhauled Treasury Regulation 16 under the PFMA, officially dismantling the bureaucratic gridlock that has historically stalled Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). By introducing a streamlined, two-track procurement framework, the state is making its most aggressive move yet to crowd in private capital.
The biggest headline? Projects valued below R2-billion are now entirely exempt from tedious National Treasury approval loops. This shifts the green light to local accounting officers, slashing approval timelines for critical projects from agonizing months to mere weeks.
Unlocking the pipeline to greater opportunity
The expert speaker line-up features key institutional leaders driving South Africa’s growth pipeline:
Provincial & State-Owned Enterprise Leadership
Hon. MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela (Roads and Transport, Gauteng) will break down macro-level infrastructure success with a case study on “A Successful Public Private Partnership – Success of the Gautrain Project.”
Hon. MEC Deidré Baartman (Finance Minister, Western Cape Provincial Government) will address “Driving the development of a pipeline of investable public infrastructure projects” specifically designed to attract private capital and support inclusive growth.
Dr Andrew Shaw (Group Chief Strategy Officer, Transnet) will unpack highly anticipated structural changes during his session, “Private Sector Participation at Transnet – Our processes and planned projects.”
Project Preparation & Development Finance
Shaheed Alli (Head: Project Preparation, DBSA) will deliver technical insights on “Project preparation, what it entails and what is required for successful implementation.”
Labeeqah Schuurman (DDG: Strategy, Policy & Coordination, Department of Infrastructure, Western Cape Government) will provide a roadmap on “Pipeline to implementation: preparing, packaging and bringing infrastructure projects to market.”
Innovation, Municipal Delivery & De-Risking
Dr Mphahlela James Thaba (Impact Area Manager: TSO, CSIR) will explore cutting-edge industrial policy in his topic, “Technology Sovereignty through Public-Private Partnerships: Leveraging AI, Advanced Technologies and Innovation Ecosystems.”
Vishaal Lutchman (Group Chief Executive, GIBB Holdings) will address localized delivery, focusing on “Municipal-level partnerships expanding major infrastructure concessions and establishing new regulatory frameworks” to unlock funding constraints and protect against waste.
Dr Samukelisiwe Mdlalose (Manager: Environmental Management, Mogale City Local Municipality) will lead a session on “Focus on Delivery: pushing to improve project preparation, reduce financial risks, and strengthen monitoring.”
Irina Unkovski (Private Sector Consultant, African Development Bank) will detail international financing mechanisms in her presentation, “Shared Services as a platform for de-risking infrastructure delivery: how standardised PPPs, project preparation and blended finance can unlock private investment.”
Practical Masterclass
The conference will feature an essential Practical Session on “key tips” in Drafting PPP and MOU agreements, offering attendees key tips and loopholes to avoid, alongside stronger project preparation and structuring guidelines.
The 2026 PPP Reforms Conference is designed as a collaborative forum where key industry players can discuss the new regulatory framework and map out actionable strategies to accelerate infrastructure projects from inception to successful long-term execution.
The event will serve as a major gathering point for South Africa’s Public and Private Partners drawing in municipal representatives, project managers, financial institutions, legal experts, transaction advisors, and private investors eager to capitalise on the nation’s upcoming project pipeline.
- Enquire: info@pinpointstewards.co.za to participate, as delegate, sponsor or exhibitor.
- Register online: www.pinpointstewards.co.za.
Early bird rate expires on 30 September.
